We had a visitor to the field out the back the other day: a pheasant, beautiful and colourful, and with the slight change in the weather, and the lengthening daylight, it signalled a welcome change.

“He’s gorgeous.” Fionnuala was folding school uniforms. “Must be a nest nearby.”

As I wondered how she knew anything about the habits of the bird, my phone pinged. It was Kieran, my dentist and manager of Atletico Blow-ins, our terrible soccer team.

I had ignored the soccer for the past while, between one thing and another, and Kieran was reminding me that training was starting up for the new year and he wanted me back. “Get your lazy arse into gear – I’ll collect u later.”

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Kieran........

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